More than a century ago, Minnie Louise Haskins penned a poem entitled God Knows. It became widely known when the King of England quoted it in his 1939 Christmas address to an anxious nation on the brink of war. It’s been our tradition to post the poem’s opening, known popularly as The Gate of the … Continued

I had the opportunity to squeeze a photo shoot in New York City into the schedule late last week. Much shorter than I would have liked, still it was a wonderful opportunity. There is something special about big city Christmas decorations. Larger than life, fantastic – the cityscape is transformed into a wonderland! These huge … Continued

St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota has an amazing choir. Last year, they traveled to Norway to perform a Christmas concert at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim along with the Cathedral’s Girls’ Choir. The concert was recorded and aired on PBS stations. It was wonderful. One of the selections was I am so glad when Christmas … Continued

Thank you for being a friend Traveled down the road and back again Your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidant I’m not ashamed to say I hope it always will stay this way My hat is off, won’t you stand up and take a bow. A hit in the late 1970s, this … Continued

Wondering what to give a special friend for Christmas? If you’re searching for something unique, take a look at our collection of personalized friendship plaques. They’re a wonderful way to show someone who’s cherished how much they mean to you. We make our plaques using fine, museum-quality materials….from the paper and inks to the matboard … Continued

Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation in 1863 was not the first (George Washington issued one more than 70 years earlier) – but it’s the one which established the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanks. Especially now, when there is an effort by many to quash any reference to religion from public … Continued

I do a lot of shooting in the early morning. A dynamic sky can help transform an iconic and often photographed scene like the one pictured here from “run of the mill” into something more unique…so there is incentive to get up early, grab my gear, and go! The passage from Lamentations which I’ve paired … Continued

All sorts of items make wonderful gifts. We’ve all no doubt received some great presents from people over the years. But every so often, a gift is particularly cherished because is of its sentimental value. It’s special because of who gave it to us – or who made it – or because it commemorates something … Continued

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” … “The King will reply, ‘I tell … Continued

How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days. John Burroughs Though we are long past peak color where I live, and most of the leaves have fallen – those that remain continue to paint the landscape with muted tones of deep gold and brown. It’s much more … Continued